Leader Adrian Dix to announce his future with BC NDP next week

VICTORIA – Adrian Dix is expected to announce next week whether he will continue as leader of the B.C. NDP.

An official in Dix’s office said Tuesday no date or time has been set for the announcement. The NDP caucus meets Wednesday morning for the first time since the legislature adjourned in July, where Dix is expected to inform the party’s MLAs of his decision.

Dix has faced calls from within his party to resign since the NDP lost the election to an unpopular B.C. Liberal Party coming off the repeal of the harmonized sales tax and other controversies.

NDP finance critic Mike Farnworth said Tuesday he will wait for Dix’s announcement before clarifying his own leadership intentions. “But hey, I finished second last time,” Farnworth said.

Energy critic John Horgan and other potential successors have also kept their intentions under wraps as the party prepares for its annual convention in November.

Premier Christy Clark met Monday with B.C.’s industrial union leaders, traditional allies of the NDP, emerging with a pledge to work together on developing natural gas pipelines and export facilities.

Provincial and municipal politicians are gathering in Vancouver next week for the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, at which the opposition leader and premier traditionally give speeches.